Distributor head



F. C. SELLECK DISTRIBUTOR HEAD Aug. 1, 1933.

Filed Mafch 16, 1931 '2 Shets-Sheet 1 0 *1 (renter Eede Jay. 1.

1933- F. c. SELLECK. 1,920,480

DISTRIBUTOR HEAD Filed March 16, 1931 ZSheets-Sheet 2 7'0 SWITCH 7-0SPA/PA PLUGS 1930870607:

fiederick CLSEZZeck Patented Aug. 1, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3Claims.

This invention relates to distributors such as are employed inelectricignition systems of combustion motors. As commonly constructeddistributors include a rotor for successively completing each of aseries of circuits, and a single pair of contacts actuated by a cam tointerrupt a primary circuit simultaneously with the completion of eachcircuit adapted to be effected by the rotor. The limited coacting areasof this single pair of contact points are subjected to intense heat andprone to soon become unfit for accurate timing of ignition. Primarilythe object of my invention is the provision in a distributor head of afloating ring interrupter in combination with a rotor. By thisarrangement high tension current for distribution by the rotor isinduced by a series of contacts successively closing a primary circuit,the contacts, at separated contact points or terminals associated with astationary ring of insulation, being established by another ring whichwhich is so moved in an orbital path and incidentally rotated on itsaxis as to vary, on the periphery of the ring, the location ofsuccessive points of electrical contact thus assuring long servicewithout material deterioration of the movable interrupter element. Otherobjects of the invention pertaining to more specific detail will behereinafter disclosed.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown in detail one convenientform of embodiment of the invention which to enable those skilled in theart to practice the same isfully set forth in the following detaileddescription while the novelty of the invention is defined in theappended claims. 35 Referring to the drawings;

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a distributor head.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on a central plane coincident with thelongitudinal axis of the driving shaft of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fi 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view online 44 of Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of certain cooperating parts one ofwhich is shown partly in section. v

Figure 6 is a detail plan view partly in section, and,

Figure '7 is a diagrammatic view of tion system embodying my invention.

Like numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views ofthe drawings,

Associated interrupter and rotormechanism embodying my invention may beinclosed in a an ignicasing divided into ashaft supporting member 1,preferably of metal, and a cover or cap 2, of insulating material. Inthe latter are embedded in the usual manner a high tension terminal 3and terminals 4 of a spark plug series. Also in a manner commonlyemployed the two members l and 2 of the casing may be separably securedtogether by spring clips as 5, suitably secured to one member andadapted to engage pocketed lugs 6 on the other.

Casing member 1 is provided with a standard form of shank 7 within whichshaft 8 rotates, said shaft being extended into the chamber 9 of thecasing and having fast thereon a thrust collar 10. Likewise fast on theshaft and serving a purposethat will presently be disclosed is a disk 11having a .hub adjacent to the collar 10 and of less diameter than thelatter. Contiguous to the disk 11 is the flange 12 of a laterallyflattened eccentric 13 which is fast on the shaft. The purpose of thiseccentric is to rotate in an orbital path, a ball bearing, indicated ina general way by 14 (see Fig. 5) and comprising an inner race 15, aseries of balls 16, a ball spacer '17 and an outer race 18. The inner 0race 15 is provided with an elongated slot 19 to receive the flattenedeccentric 13, and the ball bearing as a whole is urged laterally in theplane of its rotation by a spring 20 interposed between the eccentricand the inner race, said spring being held in place in a socket 21 inthe eccentric.

Surrounding the ball bearing in the plane of its rotation are a seriesof spaced contacts comprising conductor elements 22, which may [beassociated with the casing inany suitable way. As shown, they areimbedded in. the inner face of a ring of insulation 23 sleevedsubstantially within the cover 2 but extending also in reduced diameter,as at 24 slightly into casing member 1 and thereby serving to align thetwo casing members when they are assembled and held together by thespring clips before mentioned. Movement of the insulating ring into thecap member is limited by virtue of a slight taper imparted to the innerface of said cap and to which the ring is made to conform. Alsomovementof the ring into the shaft supporting member is limited by the shoulderformed on the ring by the reductionat 24.

Peripherally grooved as at 25, the ring 23 is adapted to receivea wire26 electrically connecting the conductor elements. One of the latter isextended to the bottom edge of its supporting ring, as at 27, to engagea binding post contact no 28 to which leads are connected respectivelythrough a condenser 29, to ground and to a primary winding 30, seediagram, Fig. 7.

For interrupting the primary circuit including the conductor elements 22a ring 31 is employed. This ring which is of greater diameter than theouter race of the ball bearing and of lesser di ameter than the innerbearing surface of ring 23 is interposed between said two members sothat when the shaft is rotated its effect upon ring 31 is transmittedthrough the eccentric 13- and the laterally thrust ball bearing 14thereby causing said ring to roll upon its axis and to follow an orbitalpath defined by ring 23 thus successively passing over conductorelements 22 and producing the desired interruption of the primarycircuit. At each interruption thus produced high tension current isinduced for delivery to a respective spark plug and for the purpose ofsuccessively completing the spark plug circuits, a rotor is employed.

As shown the rotor comprises an arm member 32 associated with the end ofshaft 8 in keyed relation thereto. Upon the arm are mounted conductorelements 33 having a spring actuated contact 34 bearing constantlyagainst the high tension terminal 3. The rotor and interrupter mechanismare relatively so located upon the shaft, and the-spark plug terminalsand interrupter contacts are relatively so located in the casing, thatrotation of the shaft causes simultaneously, interruption of the primarycircuit at each closing of a spark plug circuit.

Referring again to the interrupter mechanism,

- means will now be described for maintaining the several elements inthe plane of their rotation. The ball bearing 14 is held againstmovement longitudinally of the shaft by the eccentric flange 12 and thehub of the rotor arm 32. The ring31. between the outer end of spring 20and ring 23 is held against longitudinal movement by a ridge or tongue36, on the outer ball race 18, which engages a groove 37 on said ring31. Diametrically opposite to that portion of these elements where thetongue and groove engage each other, the ring 31, is supported by disk11 the latter be g engaged by the depending flange of said ring, seeFig. 2).

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is,- 1. A distributor head for high tension ignitionsystems including in combination a shaft, a casing divided into a shaftsupporting member and an insulating cap member, aninsulating ring withinthe casing, a conductor ring adapted to be driven in an orbital pathwithin the insulating ring, a continuous conductor associated with theinsulating ring and exposed at intervals along the path of contactbetween the conductor ring and insulator ring, and means associated withthe shaft for driving the conductor ring.

2. A distributor head for high tension ignition systems including incombination a shaft, a casing divided into a shaft supporting member andan insulating cap member, means for preventing relative longitudinalmovement of said members, an insulating ringengageable with the innersurface of both of said members to prevent relative displacement thereofsaid 0 ring having surfaces to limit its movement longitudinally of saidmembers, a conductor ring adapted to be driven in an orbital path withinthe insulating ring, a continuous conductor associated with theinsulating ring and exposed at 105 intervals along the path of contactbetween the conductor ring and insulating ring, and means associatedwith the shaft for driving the conductor ring.

3. In a distributor head, a casing, a removable 110 insulating ringfitted within the casing, a continuous conductor associated with saidsaid insulating ring, said ring having spaced recesses on its inner faceand a groove on its outer face, and the continuous conductor comprisinga series of 5 contacts seated in the recesses and connected by a wirehoused in the groove.

FREDERICK C. SELLECK.

